The Container... finally

We've had a very busy few weeks, but these last two days have been about the busiest. Our container was finally released. And the cost was not as out of sight as first reported. Our broker called and gave me the price, and I told him NO WAY were we paying that. It was so far above what we had paid before, it was mind boggling. He calmly said, I already told them you would not pay that amount, so we will wait another day and see what happens. Well, the next day he called and it was just over half of what they originally stated. What a relief!! I'm not sure why it was reduced so much, but I know the Lord had His hand on it. So, now we'll show you some of the "fun" of unloading. The guys were great, but it was a LOT of work in the heat. The driver who brought it had not been out here before, and at first we wondered if he would even get it into the driveway. He had gone beyond the drive, and instead of backing up, he cranked it around and almost tipped it over. He did make it, but everyone was holding their breath. Then it only took about 15 tries to get it to where we needed it. (Oh for the driver who had done it in three turns...) He almost hit the house, almost wiped out our bushes by the house and again, the bushes near the dorm, but eventually he did get it in there. A collective sigh went out with all 25 of us standing there. I have to say it has to be hard to get a 40 foot container into our drive and then next to the house by the containers we have here, but this fellow was about the worst we have had. Praise the Lord nothing was damaged and he did make it. I'll put pictures here so you can walk through the unloading with us. I am so thankful our guys have such a great attitude. (I guess the pay and food help, but they were a joyful lot). It used to be we used mostly the older EBAC kids from the orphanage. We did have about half of them, but the rest were others who have helped us over time and are without work. Okay, on to the pictures.... the first one is opening the container... it has to be opened VERY carefully, since traveling out on these roads tends to shift EVERYTHING in the container. But they had done a pretty good job of putting it back in after the inspection and things weren't too bad.The next few pictures are some of the things coming off...I'll explain as we go along. This was a piece of furniture for one of the boys who will be getting married soon, and is working on his house. They ALMOST dropped it, but the guys on the bottom caught it.This next one shows just some of the items on it... the buckets... what a blessing. And containers of clothing, both used and new for so many, many places. The blue you see are mattresses for the EBAC kids, the younger ones needed them quite badly. And boxes and boxes of everything you can think of.
Here are some of the mattresses being taken off... there were quite a few.
More of the buckets and some of the other boxes, and here they were starting to unload the rice meals from "Feed My Starving Children". That food was so desperately needed and Don has already started delivering it today. He even distributed some last night after all was settled down.
When all was finished, the guys got a meal. We had two gals help serve it and clean up. I get everything ready except to make the mac and cheese...I measure things out so all they have to do it mix it. One of the fellows said, we don't come for the pay, we come for the meal... so I asked, "oh then I don't have to pay you??" He sort of backed off on that one. I make them mac and cheese (huge plate each), hot dogs (at least two), brownies (a huge one each), chips, and soda. I did all the condiments, like catchup, mustard, relish, and onions. I always laugh...they put it all on the hot dogs but they put it all on their mac and cheese, too.
One of the pastors sent his driver to get his things. This time we only had one pile outside, the rest were in the dorm. Now we have to sort and stack all the boxes in there.
This may look like a lot of buckets to you, but we have already given out a LOT of them to those who need them for various things. But many, many of them will be used for our "Bucket Ministry". What a blessing these empty buckets are to so many people.This container has all the socks (and yes, they are a blessing and everyone loves to get them), and some of the Christmas bags that were ready to come when the container was loaded. We will wait for the distribution of these, though.
And last but certainly NOT least, the food... wow, you would not believe how many people will be blessed with food from this container. The rice meals, and peanut butter for protein, and corn meal...one of the staples of the diet here. We also got milk for the first time in a LONG time, due to the price. That will be a wonderful blessing, too. Now, in closing, we have a huge prayer request. Our next container, with the Christmas Bags is to be shipped the end of this month. I am asking now for everyone to pray with us for it to come in a timely manner, but also, that God will be working on the hearts of those here in customs to realize that we are here to help the people and we really do simply GIVE things away, and NEVER charge anyone a thing on this end for it. Pray for softened hearts and open minds as to the ministry we have.

We praise God for His intervention with the present container and ask that He will go before this next one and keep His hands on it as well. And Bless Stan and Gloria for all their work in getting these containers of food and needed items to the people here.

We praise God for all He has done for us and all He will do for the ministry in the future. He really is AWESOME!!